Legalize File Sharing, Say Swedish MPs

CrystalFalcon writes "In the past week, the file sharing debate has exploded in Sweden, with numerous mainstream politicians finally having understood the issue. Last week, seven Swedish MPs wrote a prominent opinion piece saying that fully legalized file sharing is not just the best solution, it's the only solution. Now their number has increased to 13, and the issue continues to grow. Good summaries at TorrentFreak and P2P Consortium. Original opinion piece in English here."

Comments

Re:Sure,

[famebait]

Actually they recently criminalized _buying_ sexual services. Selling therm is still legal, though.

Third largest exporter of music

[CrystalFalcon]

I'm sorry, but your statement has no basis in fact. Sweden is the world's third largest exporter of music.

Re:What took them so long?

[hossi19]

That's wrong, Sweden produce, percentage, most international music of all countries in the world. Why Sweden is in the front of the filesharing debate is because we have the highest internet and computer use in the world. Every home in Sweden have at the worst a ADSL-link connected.

Are we all singing off the same songsheet

[ddrichardson]

FTA:

Decriminalizing all non-commercial file sharing and forcing the market to adapt is not just the best solution. It's the only solution, unless we want an ever more extensive control of what citizens do on the Internet.

That's not the same as the synopsis:

Last week, seven Swedish MPs wrote a prominent opinion piece saying that fully legalized file sharing is not just the best solution, it's the only solution.

Now, I RTFA and it reads to me that he feels that the media/IP industries will never be satisfied with what the state does and that he doesn't feel it's the states place to police the Internet. Both of these are admirable and sensible statements, in line with what many people actually think.

But I really don't think he is advocating Sweden as some sort of torrent haven as some posters seem to be suggesting.

Re:Are we all singing off the same songsheet

[CrystalFalcon]

Yes, he means that all noncommercial (i.e. not-for-profit) file sharing should be fully legalized, i.e. that nobody must be allowed to monitor and police the Internet for copyright infringements.

As I have met the man in question, I am well aware of his points and arguments.

Re:What took them so long?

[McNihil]

"...little IP..."

Ahrem... just because the country barely has 9 million people doesn't mean they have little IP. The cool thing with Sweden is that it has IP where it matters and LOADS of it.

ABB, Ericsson, Tetra Laval... I could go on.

That you got 5 mod points is insulting.

Re:offtopic grammer nazi

[ajcham]

Actually he did use it correctly. It's like the difference between come and go or here and there. You use emigrate when you are in your native country and immigrate when you are in the destination country.